Automobile bumper



May 24,., 1927. 1,629,587

W. RAHE AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Sept. 29. 1926 lll/llllllllllllr/lllllEA\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ I lll/lll,

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM RARE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial No. 138,505.

My invention relates to automobile bumpers of the tubular type andparticularly to the cap construction of the ends of, the tubes.

It is the object of my invention to provide a construction for the endsof the tubular elements of bumpers which although of light, inexpensiveconstruction will be very resistant to the blows which the bumpers arebuilt to resist.

In the art, it is quite common for manufacturers of bumpers to 'providebumpers having tubular abutment elements extending laterally across theautomobile frame. It is also quite common to provide caps for the endsof the tubular pieces which will protect what would otherwise be theopen ends of the tubes. In order to have suiiicient strength to resistend shocks. these caps have been made with sleeve-like portions adaptedto be driven over the ends of the tubes. Ordinarily the rounded portionswhich have closed the ends of the sleeves and extended laterally acrossthe openings in the tubes have been of heavy metal. This hasnecessitated havingvthe caps cast. and then finished. YVhen light capssuch as could be stamped or pressed outl of metal have been used, theyhave not been found to be sufficiently strong to stand the blows towhich they are subjected. caps have been found too expensive forpractical use particularly as a set of bumpers requires as many as adozen caps.

It is my object to provide a stiff metal disc preferably of roundedreinforced contour in accordance with the shape of the cap which willform a driving fit within the cap, and which will abut the edges of thetubes thereby strengtheninnr the resisting power of the cap toward acollapsing strain or blow. My rinvention has enabled me to use lightmetal such as aluminum for the caps which metal may be stamped orpressed into shape with a die, and the provision of discs of metal suchas steel has enabled me to make more durable caps at very materiallyless cost.

Referring to the drawings in which I have illustrated several preferredstructures illustrating my invention- Figure l shows in section the endof a tubular bumper rail having a cap with a convex base.

Figure 2 shows in section the end of a tubular bumper rail having a capwith a concave base.

The heavy cast 1 Figure 3 is a plan view of a different type ofreinforcing disc than the types shown 1n Figuresl and 2.

Figure 4 shows 1n plan still anothertype of reinforcing disc.

Figure 5 is a section along m Figure 3.

Figure 6 1s a section along the line 5-5 the line 6-6 in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 ,in Figure 4.

The tubular rail of the bumper' is indicated at l. rlhe caps generallyindicated at 2 have sleeve like portions 3 which engage the outerperipheries of the tubular rails, or bars, and driven preferably with adriving fit within the caps are the reinforcing discs 4. It will benoted that Figure l shows a cap with a convex base while Figure 2 showsa` cap with a concave base. In combination with the cap, shown in Figurel, I have illustrated a. convex disc which abuts the inner portion ofthe base of the cap throughout its entire surface. Figure 2 on the otherhand which has a concave cap has a Hat disc which' engages the innerface of the cap. only at its center. Figures 3 and 5 show a disc oflat'contour with cross-like corrugations 5 which reinforce theresistance of the disc to a collapsing blow. Figures el, 6 and? show aconvex disc of oval shape. There are many styles and shapes of innerdisc which may be used to reinforce the base of the caps and although Ihave shown several preferred types, I do not wish because of the failureto show other types to be limited to the specific structures shown.

It will be within the realms of mechanical equivalency to vary the,shape of the inner discs in accordancev with the particular requirements of the type and shape of cap used. Although I pref-er to makethe caps of aluminum and the disc of steel, the metals may also bevaried.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: l

1.1In combination with a tubular element of a hollow bumper bar, a capfor fitting over the end of the tube, said cap having sleeve-likeportions for engaging the outer surface of the tubular element, and adisc of equivalent diameter of said sleeve-like port-ions, said discadapted Vto reinforce the Cap against a collapsing strain.

to the inner diameter 2. -In combination with a tubular element of aVhollow bu'lnper bar, a cap for 'Iitting over the end of the tube, said@up having sleeve-.like portions for engaging he outer surface of thetubular element, and 'a disc of equivalent diameter to the inner dran-veer of said Sleeve-like portions, Suid discv adapted To reinforce the"Cap 'against 'a collapsing strain, said disc bearing against `che innersurface of Said cap.

v73). n combination with al tubular clement of a hollow bumper bur, zzcap hav-'run' portons'adapted to engage thv Outer sulrzrce of thetubular .element udja'ccnt lits yopen end, a

"reinforcing disc acllzrptwgl in be `driven Within said cap and to bemoved. 'with 'the Qngzjigelnent of the Cap on the tubular element intoContact 'with the edges "of v thef'end of the tubular element.

In con'lbinaton with a tubular element of a hollmvbumfper bar, fr Caphaving p0r- 'ons adapted to engage the Outer surface of the tubularelement adjacent its open end, Y:L reinforcing disc adapted to be drivenwithin said Cup Aand to be moved with the engagement (rf-the cap on thetubular element 'into Contact with the edges 02E "ille end oit' the'tubular element, sai d ivschzzving .p0rtwnfs abuttlng the ln'nfersnr-face v'01' the cap for the purposes descrlbed.

